MENAME Winter 2020 assignments: Difference between revisions

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== Homework assignment ==
== Homework assignment ==


Watch the film [https://ualberta.kanopy.com/video/100-arabica 100% Arabic], set in the largely Arab "Banlieues" (suburbs) of Paris, and starring two of the biggest names in Algerian "rai" music, Cheb Khalid and Cheb Mami. Submit your impressions on eClass:  What is the role of music among Paris's African immigrants, as depicted in the film? What is the role of religion?  Why and how do they conflict?  What do you think of the film? Be as critical as you wish (Note that the film is lighthearted, and full of stereotypes). Submit a paragraph or two on eClass.
Rai ("opinion") music developed in Algeria from the 1920s out of folk roots, "telling it like it is", and expressing taboo subjects against social convention, something like the blues in America. Developing in the city of Oran (Wahran), the music reached its pinnacle with the more electrified version of the 1980s, featuring the "chebbab" (youth) singers of the day, and developing in dialog with the expatriate community in France, where many Algerian singers emigrated, particularly after the rise of Islamism and threats against them for their supposedly dissolute ways (Cheb Hasni was assassinated in 1994).


We will sing Cheb Khalid's famous song, "Wahran"; hear it as 1:12:35.)
Watch the comedic 1997 film [https://ualberta.kanopy.com/video/100-arabica 100% Arabic], set in the largely Arab "Banlieues" (suburbs) of Paris, and starring two of the biggest names in Algerian "rai" music, Cheb Khalid and Cheb Mami. Submit your impressions on eClass:  What  social issues are raised? What is the role of music among Paris's African immigrants, as depicted in the film? What is the role of religion? Why and how do they conflict?  What do you think of the film? Write as critically as you can. (Note that the film is lighthearted, and full of stereotypes). Submit a paragraph or two on eClass.
 
We will sing Cheb Khalid's famous song, "Wahran"; hear it at 1:12:35 and also at the famous [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7sbZVZu0IQ 1, 2, 3 Soleils)] live 1998 concert in Paris.)

Revision as of 23:41, 23 February 2020

short link: http://bit.ly/mename20a

Note: this schedule will be filled in week by week. Note that all assignments are to be submitted via eClass (http://bit.ly/mename20e) before the class for which it is due.

Repertoire is listed (with links to listen and read) via http://bit.ly/mename more specifically at : http://bit.ly/menamerep

Repertoire documents are available online in Google Drive:
http://bit.ly/mename20g Theory resources on maqamat and durub are available via the main course webpage http://bit.ly/mename Also see http://maqamworld.com


Week 1: Jan 9

Meeting for consent

Week 2: Jan 16

  • Introduction to the course: Requirements
    • Arrive and leave on time, participate and pay attention throughout, no side conversations!
    • Help set up chairs at the beginning, and help stack them at the end
    • Attendance will be taken at the end of class
    • Keep break to 10 min
    • No electronics! (no phones, tablets, computers allowed, whatsoever) Take notes with pen and paper.
    • Bring xeroxed sheets (lyrics, notations), ideally arranged in a notebook, to every class.
    • Practice exercises and repertoire as part of your homework
    • Submit writing assignments on eclass
  • Dates to note on your calendars:
    • Final concert Thurs March 26
    • Arab music concert in Convocation Hall: Thurs Feb 6 (there will be no class, but you'll attend the concert and write a report about it)
    • Quizzes (from 6:30): Feb 13, March 5, April 2
  • MENA: Middle East and North Africa
    • Some Arabic expressions: Ahlan wa Sahlan! - Ahlan Biik!
    • Countries
    • Languages
    • Religions
    • History
    • Musical characteristics: instruments (takht), heterophony, poetry-centric
  • Musical features
    • Introduction to iqa`at or durub (maqsum, masmudi, sa`idi, wahda, bamb, malfuf, sama`i thaqil), clapping or using dum/tek
    • Percussion exercise
    • Introduction to maqam hijaz
  • Songs. Note that the official link for repertoire is on http://bit.ly/menamerep
  • Terms to know:
    • Dulab: "wheel" - prelude
    • Taqsim - instrumental improvisation
    • Qafla - cadence (closing formula)
    • Maqam - melodic mode
    • Darb - rhythmic cycle

Week 3: Jan 23

Homework Assignments

Remember homework to be handed in is always due on the day it is listed, before class! You must submit reading reviews for each reading, listening, or viewing before class on Thursday! Each review is one paragraph (or, at most, two), in two parts: first, you should demonstrate that you’ve completed the assignment (reading, listening, or viewing) by telling me what it’s about (what are the main points?); second, you should demonstrate that you’ve thought about it, by telling me what you think of it (what are its limitations?). If there's more than one item (reading, listening, viewing) be sure you discuss all of them. You don't have to write much on each. Use the eClass site to submit all assignments. Late submissions will be downgraded (see course outline for details).

All assignments due on a particular day will be submitted together, since eClass provides a single link for each Thursday (note that there aren't assignments for every Thursday). For more details on assignments, see course outline.

Read & review the following (submit reviews on eClass):

Browse: http://maqamworld.com, and Theory section of our website, especially for the maqamat and durub we introduced last week.

Practice:

  • Please be able to recognize and play the rhythms we've introduced thus far, ideally while counting out or stepping to the beats!
  • Listen to our repertoire and sing along.

Lecture and exercise segment

  • Music of the Middle East and North Africa
    • Map
    • Reading - critique
  • Durub
    • Maqsum
    • Masmudi
    • Sa`idi
    • Wahda
    • Bamb
    • Malfuf
    • Ayub (Zar)
  • Maqamat (see http://maqamworld.com)
    • Hijaz D
    • Bayati D
    • Saba D
    • Kurd D
    • Rast G
    • Nahawand
    • Ajam

Rehearsal segment

warmup: Samai Bayati

Songs: (see http://bit.ly/menamerep for all repertoire)

  • Hibbina (expanded version)
  • Ah Ya Zayn, Nagwa Fouad version
  • Leylim Ley, from the 1985 film "Mavi mavi" (Blue blue), sung by Ibrahim Tatlises.


Week 4: Jan 30

Homework Assignment

Watch the 1969 film, "Abi fawq al-Shajara", starring the celebrated Egyptian singer, Abdel Halim Hafez. Listen especially for the song song Gana al-Hawa, which we'll begin next week.

Also watch the 1964 film, Bayyaʾ al-Khawatim (Seller of Rings), starring the famous Lebanese singer, Fairouz. Listen especially for the song "Ya Mirsal al-Marasil", which we'll begin soon.

Submit 1-2 paragraphs on eClass, comparing the two films, by considering their musical-poetic, cultural, dramatic, and cinematic aspects. Which one did you like more, and why?

Lecture and exercise segment

  • Films - discussion?
  • Durub
    • Maqsum
    • Masmudi
    • Sa`idi
    • Wahda
    • Bamb
    • Malfuf
    • Ayub (Zar)
  • Maqamat Review (see http://maqamworld.com)
    • Hijaz D
    • Bayati D
    • Saba D
    • Kurd D
    • Rast G
    • Nahawand
    • Ajam
  • Maqamat focus: Rast (C) and Bayati (G)

Rehearsal segment

warmup:


Songs: (see http://bit.ly/menamerep for all repertoire)

  • Ya Mirsal al-Marasil
  • Gana al-Hawa
  • Hibbina (expanded version)
  • Ah Ya Zayn, Nagwa Fouad version
  • Leylim Ley

Week 5: Feb 6

Note: class will be transferred to the iWeek talk and concert in Convocation Hall. Students are required to attend for the entire event, from 7 pm to 9 pm, and write and submit a concert report, detailed below, which will be due on Sunday Feb 9.

Homework Assignment

  • Read: Musical Aesthetics in Present-Day Cairo, by Ali Jihad Racy, in Ethnomusicology, Vol. 26, No. 3 (Sep., 1982), pp. 391-406, and available online.
  • Write: a concert report comprising 2 paragraphs, covering 2 topics, and submit on eClass for Week 5 (note that this week the assignment will be due Sunday)
    • 1. Considering both Thomas Mapfumo's talk and the Arabic music concert, along with other remarks made on stage, and your own intuitions or experience, discuss: how can music help people (whether musicians or others) adjust to forced migration, retain connection to their homeland, and also integrate with their new community? What are music's strengths and weakness in this regard?
    • 2. In your view, how does this evening's Arabic music performance illustrate the aesthetic principles of Arabic music as described in today's assigned reading?

Week 6: Feb 13 - QUIZ

Class will begin with a short quiz (about 45 min). Consult this review sheet. Be sure you've completed the readings, watched the films, and are familiar with the music we've studied so far.


Week 7: Reading Week

Week 8: Feb 27

Homework assignment

Rai ("opinion") music developed in Algeria from the 1920s out of folk roots, "telling it like it is", and expressing taboo subjects against social convention, something like the blues in America. Developing in the city of Oran (Wahran), the music reached its pinnacle with the more electrified version of the 1980s, featuring the "chebbab" (youth) singers of the day, and developing in dialog with the expatriate community in France, where many Algerian singers emigrated, particularly after the rise of Islamism and threats against them for their supposedly dissolute ways (Cheb Hasni was assassinated in 1994).

Watch the comedic 1997 film 100% Arabic, set in the largely Arab "Banlieues" (suburbs) of Paris, and starring two of the biggest names in Algerian "rai" music, Cheb Khalid and Cheb Mami. Submit your impressions on eClass: What social issues are raised? What is the role of music among Paris's African immigrants, as depicted in the film? What is the role of religion? Why and how do they conflict? What do you think of the film? Write as critically as you can. (Note that the film is lighthearted, and full of stereotypes). Submit a paragraph or two on eClass.

We will sing Cheb Khalid's famous song, "Wahran"; hear it at 1:12:35 and also at the famous 1, 2, 3 Soleils) live 1998 concert in Paris.)